http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhq...ostpone-matches/2009/05/27/1243103593831.html
League ready to postpone matches
Glenn Jackson | May 28, 2009
THE National Rugby League is believed to have contingency plans should the swine flu outbreak reach more significant proportions, including the prospect of postponing matches.
The NRL's chief operating officer, Graham Annesley, was in contact with health officials yesterday and is expected to discuss the league's plans for any swine flu difficulties with the chief executive, David Gallop, in coming days.
"Obviously this is very much a moving beast. We're relying very much on advice from the health authorities.
"It's a bit difficult to put plans in place for issues that you don't know if and when and how they'd arise, but clearly we do have some options … depending on what was to happen."
Annesley's comments came as rugby league prepared for its annual showpiece, the State of Origin, and the first match between NSW and Queensland at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne next Wednesday night, which is expected to draw a crowd of about 50,000.
Four match officials have been placed in a five-day quarantine after they were exposed to the H1N1 virus on a flight to Canberra last weekend.
Referees Jared Maxwell and Bernard Sutton and touch judges Jeff Younis and Ricky McFarlane have been replaced for games this weekend.
